Merritt Island Marriage Records

Marriage records for Merritt Island residents go through the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. The clerk office processes license applications and maintains all marriage documents for the county.

Where Merritt Island Residents Apply for a License

Merritt Island is an unincorporated community in Brevard County. It sits between the Indian River and the Banana River, just south of the Kennedy Space Center. Since Merritt Island has no city government, all official records business goes through the county. The Brevard County Clerk of Courts has offices in Titusville at 50 S. Nieman Avenue and in Viera at 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way. Phone: (321) 637-5413.

The Titusville courthouse is roughly 20 minutes north of Merritt Island. The Viera location is about 20 minutes south. Either works for a marriage license. Pick whichever fits your schedule better. Both offices are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

You and your partner must go together. Bring a photo ID that has not expired. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, and state-issued IDs are accepted. Social Security numbers are part of the application. If a prior marriage ended in divorce, death, or annulment, provide the date it ended. The clerk will ask for this information.

Marriage License Fees

Brevard County charges $86 for a standard marriage license. A premarital preparation course brings the cost down to $61. The course has to be finished within one year before applying and must come from a registered provider. Florida Statute Chapter 741 sets the rules for approved courses. The discount plus the waiting period waiver makes it a solid deal.

Cash and credit cards are the payment methods at the clerk office. No personal checks. If you want the clerk to officiate the wedding, that service costs $30. Many couples use this for a simple civil ceremony at the courthouse and celebrate later with friends and family at a separate event.

Certified copies from Brevard County cost a small fee per copy. Contact the clerk for the current pricing. These certified copies carry the official seal and are valid for legal purposes anywhere.

Online Search for Merritt Island Marriage Records

The Brevard County Clerk provides an online records search tool. You can look up marriage records by entering names or dates. The search is free. Getting a certified copy requires a fee, payable through the website or in person at the courthouse.

For statewide records, the Florida Department of Health keeps marriage data from 1927 forward. A state search with one certified copy is $5. Additional copies cost $4 each. The state office processes requests from Jacksonville and the turnaround is measured in weeks, not days.

VitalChek offers another online option. The fee is $15 plus processing charges. Credit cards accepted. Copies ship by mail. This service works well for people who have moved away from Merritt Island and cannot visit the Brevard courthouse. For local residents, the county clerk remains the fastest choice.

Steps to Get a Marriage License

Merritt Island residents should follow this process:

• Go to the Brevard County Clerk at Titusville or Viera with your partner
• Bring valid photo ID and Social Security number for each person
• Have prior marriage end dates ready if applicable
• Pay $86 for the license or $61 with premarital course proof
• Wait three days if both of you live in Florida and did not take the course
• Get married within 60 days anywhere in the state of Florida

The three-day cooling period comes from Florida Statute 741.04. It applies to Florida residents only. Visitors from other states skip the wait. The premarital course eliminates it for everyone. Once the license is in your hands, you have 60 days to use it in any Florida county.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics can perform wedding ceremonies. The state does not require witnesses. After the wedding, the officiant has 10 days to send the signed license back to the clerk who issued it. The clerk records the marriage and reports it to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Processing at the state level takes about 60 days.

Public Records Access

Florida Statutes Chapter 119 makes marriage records public. Anybody can request a copy. There is no requirement to prove a relationship to the couple or show a legal reason for the request. The clerk must provide copies. Sensitive details like Social Security numbers are removed before the copies go out.

In person at the Titusville or Viera courthouse is the quickest way to get copies. The clerk can print them while you wait. Online orders through the clerk website are also available. For mail requests, send a letter with the names, marriage date, and payment to the clerk. Check or money order is the standard for mailed payments.

Recent marriages may not be in the state system yet. It takes about 60 days for new records to show up at the Florida Department of Health. The county has them much sooner. If your Merritt Island wedding happened within the past couple of months, go straight to the Brevard County clerk.

Other Cities in Brevard County

Brevard County's clerk serves every community in the county. See other cities for local marriage records details.